Clutch, brake and knife arrangement for copying machine

ABSTRACT

A clutch, brake and knife arrangement for the copy paper transport system of a copying machine. A link in the knife assembly is attached to a brake band wrapped around a brake drum fixed to an end of a copy paper feed roller. A clutch is provided to couple the roller to a drive chain. During copy paper feed, the clutch is energized and a knife solenoid is de-energized. The brake band sits loosely around the brake drum and thus exerts no braking force on the copy paper feed roller. When the copy paper is to be cut, the knife solenoid is actuated and the clutch is de-energized. As the knife rotates to cut the copy paper, the brake band attached to the link in the knife assembly is tightened around the brake drum of the copy paper feed roller. This causes the roller to come to an abrupt halt before the cut is made.

United States Patent 1 1 Eveland 14 1 Jan. 16, 1973 [54] CLUTCH, BRAKE AND KNIFE 3,537,787 11 1970 Murgas ..355 29 ARRANGEMENT FOR COPYING 1 v MACHINE Primary Examiner-Donald G. Kelly [76] Inventor: James A. Eveland, 1570-8th Ammey-schapp Hatch gig/351e, S an Franclsco, Cahf. ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 12 7 A clutch, brake and knife arrangement for the copy paper transport system of a copying machme. A lmk PP 88,812 in the knife assembly is attached to a brake band v v I wrapped around a brake drum fixed to an end of a 52 us. (:1. ..s3/230, 83/205, 83/610 PY P P feed A dumb is Provided wuple 51 Int. Cl. ..B65h 35/06 the roller to a drive Chain During PY Paper feed, [581' Field of Search ..83/203-205, 230, the clutch is energized and a knife Solenoid is 3 0; 355 2 29 gized. The brake band sits loosely around the brake drum and thus exerts no braking force on the copy [56] t R fer Cit d paper feed roller. When the copy paper is to be cut,

the knife solenoid is actuated and the clutch is de- UNITED STATES PATENTS energized. As the knife rotates to cut the copy paper, 2,607,264v 8/l952 Gazza u v "35/29 the brake band attached to the link in the knife as- 3 319 44g 5 19 7 Bottom g 230x sembly is tightened around the brake drum of the 1,960,945 5/1934 Krueger ..83/205 copy paper feed roller. This causes the roller to come 3,572,203 3/ 1971 Woodham ..83/205 X to an'abrupt halt before the cut is made. 2,748,861 6/1956 'Stoeser ..83/203 3,591,279 7/1971 Gai'dner. ...355/29 14 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures YPATENTEDJAMBIQB 3710.664

INVENTOR.

JAMES A. Eva/W0 ATTORNEYS CLUTCH, BRAKE AND KNIFE ARRANGEMENT FOR COPYING MACHINE 20, 1971. The original document to be copied in transported past a scanning window. At thesame time, copy paper is fed from a roll through a corona unit andthen past an exposure window. The copy paper moves in optical synchronization with the original document to be copied. lt is'exposed atthe exposure station by light reflected from the original document at the scanning window, and is then developed.

A photocell in the original transport system detects the leading and trailing edges of the original document to be copied. Initially, the .edge of the copy paper roll is adjacent to a pair of knife blades. As soon'as the lead-.

ing edge of the original document is detected, a copy; paper feed roller clutch is energized to start the feed of system. Because the copy paper feed begins when the leading edge of the original is detected and terminates with the knife operation when the trailing edge of the original is detected, and because the-original "and copy paper speeds are the same, it'isapparent" that the length of the cut sheet is the same as the length of the original document to be copied.

In machines of this type, it is very important that the copy paper feed stop abruptly when the trailing edge of the original is detected. If the copy paper overtravels slightly, it is apparent that the cut copy sheets will be too long. Furthermore, if the copy paper feed does not cease before the knife operates, it is possible for a copy paper jam" to arise.

An approach which has been taken in the past is to clutch the copy paper feed roller to a drive chain, the chain causing the roller to rotate as long as copy paper feed is necessary. Although the chain moves continuously, it drives the copy paper feed roller only when the clutch is energized. Assoon as the leading edge of the' original is detected, the clutch is energized and the drive chain causes the copy paper'feed roller to rotate and to feed copy paper. As soon as the trailing edge of the original document :is detected, the clutch is deenergizedand, while the drive chain continues to move, the copy paper feedrollerstops turning. in order to insure that the copy paper feed roller does not overtravel,

' the roller is continuously braked. When the clutch is energized, the drive chain causes the roller to move against the force of the brake. "As soon as the clutch is tie-energized, the brake causes the roller to stop abruptly. l

The major problem withthis prior art approach is that at all times when the copy paper feed roller is turned, it must be rotated against the force of the brake. it is thus more difficult to drive the copy paper feed roller and considerable power is wasted.

Moreover, there is unnecessary wear on the brake lining whenever the copy paper roller is rotated, and relatively frequent replacements are necessary.

It is a general object of our invention to provide a clutch and brake arrangement by which the copy paper feed roller is clutched to' the drive chain when paper is to be fed from the copy paper roll,,and the copy paper feed roller is braked only when the clutch is de-ene'rgized.

It isanother object of our invention to couple the knife assembly to the brake so that operation of the knife-(which occurs together with de-energization of the clutch) automatically results in braking of the copy paper feed rollerv In accordance with the principles of our invention, the copy paper feed roller is coupled to the drive chain through a clutch mechanism. Only when the clutch is energized does the copy paper feed roller turn. A brake band is wrapped around a brake drum attached to the roller. One end of the brake band is anchored and the other is connected to one of the links in the knife assembly. When the knife is in its rest position, the brake band is wrapped loosely around the copy paper feed roller brake drum. As long as the clutch is energized and the knifeis de-energized, no braking, force is applied to the roller. When it is necessary tocut the copy paper, a knife-solenoid is operated at the same time that the clutch is de-energized. As the knife solenoid operates to move one of the knife blades, the link in the knife assembly to which the brake band is attached moves in a direction to tighten the brake band around the copy paper feed roller brake drum. At this time the copy paper feed roller comes to an abrupt halt. Thus, the braking force is applied to the copy paper feed roller only when the knife solenoid is operated, this, only when the roller is not turned.

The major advantage of the arrangement is that when the clutchis energized, no braking force is applied to the copy paper feed roller which must be overcome by the drive chain. An added advantage of the arrangement is that the brake band is tightened by the link to which it is attached before the knife cut is actually made. (The same link which tightens the brake band also turns one of the knife blades, the link tightening the bra'de band to stop the'copy paper feed roller before theknife blade cuts the paper.) This insures that the copy paper feed stops before the knife cut is made.

It is afeature of our invention to provide a brake '1 band around a copy paper feed roller brake drum which is attached to a link in the knife assembly such that the brake band is tightened to halt the copy paper feed roller only when the knife is actuated and prior to the cutting of the copy paper.

, Further objects, features and advantages of our invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partial end view of the system shown in FIG. 1 and shows the various elements both when the knife is in its normal (rest) position and when it is actuated.

Copy paper feed roller 12 is journalled in vertical bracket 16 and terminates in brake drum 20 which rotates with it. The feed roller bears against roller 14 and, when roller 12 is turned, copy paper, represented by arrow 56a, which is fed into the nip of the rollers is transported in the direction shown. The copy paper, farther along its path, passes through knife blades 54, 52, as symbolized by arrow 56b. Blade 54 is fixed while blade 52, when actuated, rotates in the clockwise direction to cut the copy paper. It is to be understood that only those parts of a copying machine are shown which are necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

Clutch 22 is mounted on vertical bracket 16. Shaft extends through drum into the clutch assembly, and when the clutch is energized shaft 10 is clutched to roller 12. At the end of shaft 10 there is mounted a gear 18, driven by chain 24. The chain moves in the direction shown by arrow 76 to cause gear 18 to rotate in the clockwise direction. When conductors 64a, 64b are extended to line conductors 58,60, the clutch is energized and roller 12 rotates with gear 18 and shaft 10. When the clutch is de-energized, gear 18 and shaft 10 rotate but are not clutched to roller 12; roller 12 remains stationary and copy paper is not transported by rollers l2, l4.

Bearing 50 is contained within vertical bracket 16, and shaft 34 extends through it. One end of the shaft is attached to blade 52. The other end of the shaft is gripped by fingers 40b, 40c of link element 40. Screw 38 is extended through the two fingers and lug 32b of bracket 32, the screw serving not only to attach the bracket to link 40, but also to tighten fingers 40b, 40:: around shaft 34 so that clockwise rotation of link 40 around the axis of shaft 34 causes the shaft to rotate with it in the direction shown by arrow 36.

Solenoid 44 is mounted to vertical bracket 16 by screws 48. Link 42 serves to couple link 40 to solenoid shaft 80. At the rear end of link 40 there is a stud 40a around which one end of link 42 is mounted. At the other end of link 42 there is another stud 42b, around which the end of solenoid shaft 80 is mounted. When the solenoid is actuated, the solenoid shaft is pulled into the solenoid resulting in a clockwise rotation of link 40 around the axis of shaft 34. This in turn causes knife blade 52 to rotate in the clockwise direction and a sheet to be cut from the copy paper roll.

One end of brake band 28 is secured to anchor .26,

the anchor being mounted on vertical bracket 16. The brake band extends around brake drum 20 and is attached at its other end to one end of the spring 30. The other end of the spring is secured to lug 32a of bracket 32. In the position shown in the drawing, the tension of the brake band is insufficient to exert any braking force on brake drum 20; chain 24 can thus drive roller 12 when clutch 22 is energized without having to overcome any braking force.

Relay driver 74 is normally de-energized. With realy 72 similarly de-energized, ganged contacts 62a, 62b are in the positions shown. Conductor 64b, connected to terminal 70a, is extended through contact 62b to line 60. Since conductor 64a is connected to line 58, current flows through conductors 64a, 64b and the clutch is energized. As long as relay driver 74 remains unoperated, feed roller 12 is clutched to gear 18 and it turns to move copy paper. At the same time, solenoid conductor 66b, connected to terminal 68b, is not extended through contact 62a to line 60, and the solenoid remains de-energized with knife 52 in the position shown.

When it is determined that the copy paper is to be cut, relay driver 74 is operated (by some mechanism not shown in the drawing). At this time, relay 72 is energized and contact 62a moves to terminal 68b. Line is thus connected through contact 620, terminal 68b, conductor 66b, the winding of solenoid 44 and conductor 66a to line 58, and the solenoid operates. At the same time, contact 62b moves from terminal a to terminal 70b, and the actuating current for the clutch stops flowing.

When the knife solenoid is operated, links 40, 42, and solenoid shaft move to the positions shown in phantom in FIG. 2. At the same time that knife 52 moves upward in FIG. 2 to cut the copy paper, bracket 32 moves to the position shown in phantom. Brake band 28 is tightened in the direction shown by arrow 78 and exerts a braking force on brake drum 20. Thus the knife solenoid not only causes the copy paper to be cut, it also serves to cause roller 12 to come to an abrupt halt. Spring 30 is provided to insure that when bracket 32 moves to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 2 brake band-28 is wrapped tightly around brake drum 20. the length of the brake band is such that spring 30 stretches slightly when bracket 32 moves to the position shown in phantom. Without the spring, the brake band would have to be precisely the right length were it too short knife 52 would not move to its maximum uppermost position shown in phantom in FIG. 2, and were it too long insufficient tension would be developed in the brake band to halt copy paper feed roller 12.

As soon as relay driver 74 releases, solenoid shaft 80 moves upward to the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, knife 52 restores and the brake band loosens around brake drum 20. At the same time, clutch 22 is energized so that the copy paper feed commences once again.

With the system shown in the drawing, as soon as the knife restores the copy paper feed begins once again. The knife must remain actuated until another copy paper feed is to begin. In some machines, it may be desirable to have the knife restore without immediately commencing a copy paper feed. In such a case, all that is necessary is to provide additional contacts in one of conductors 64a, 64b which open with the operation of relay driver 74, but are not closed again after the relay driver de-energizes until the copy paper feed is to commence.

It should be noted that the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 insures that roller 12 stops turning before the actual cut is made. The cut is not made until knife 52 moves upward adjacent to the tip of knife blade 54. By this time, brake band 28 has been tightened sufficiently to brake roller 12. Thus the knife cut cannot possibly be made until after the copy paper feed roller comes to a halt.

.machines, the invention is also valuable for use in various types of printing apparatus and other equipment wherein a web of material is intermittently advanced.

What I claim is:

l. A clutch, brake and knife assembly for cutting a sheet of paper from a roll and braking paper feed from the roll comprising feed roller means for feeding paper from said roll,

drive means, clutch means energizable for clutching said feed roller means to said drive means and de-energizable for releasing said'feed roller means from said drive means,

knife means for cutting a sheet of paper from said roll and normally disengaged from paper passed adjacent thereto, 7

means for energizing said knife means to cut a sheet of paper from said roll, means for braking said feed roller means,

means for operating said braking means to halt said feed roller means and simultaneously operating said knife energizing means to cut a sheet of paper from said roll,

and means for controlling the simultaneous operation of said knife energizing means and the deenergization of said clutch means,

said braking means including a brake drum attached to said feed roller means,

anchoring means,

and a brake band,

one end of said brake band being coupled to said anchoring means and the other end of said brake band being coupled to said knife means for moving with said knife means to tighten the brake band around said brake drum when said knife energizing means is operated.

2. A clutch, brake and knife assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said knife means includes a knife blade and link means for moving said knife blade responsive to the operation of said knife energizing actuating means, said other end of said brake band being coupled to said link means.

3. A clutch, brake and knife assembly in accordance with claim 2 further including spring means connected at one end to one end of said brake band, with the other end of said spring means and the other end of said brake band being coupled tosaid anchoring means and such that upon operation of said knife energizing means the tension developed in said brake band is sufficient to halt said feed roller means before said knife means cuts said pa er.

5. A clutch, bra e and knife assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said braking means includes means coupled between said feed roller means and said knife means for moving and braking said feed roller means responsive to movement of said knife means.

6. A clutch, brake and knife assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said braking means is operative to halt movement of said feed roller means prior to the cutting of said paper by said knife means.

7. An assembly for cutting a sheet of paper from a roll and braking paper feed from the roll comprising feed roller means for feeding paper from said roll, means for driving said feed roller means upon energization and not driving said feed roller means upon deenergization, knife means for cutting a sheet of paper from said roll and normally disengaged from paper passed adjacent thereto, normally inoperative means for braking said feed roller means, and means for operating said braking means to brake said feed roller means and said knife means to cut a sheet of paper from said roll simultaneously.

8. An assembly in accordance with claim 7 further including means for controlling the simultaneous operation of of said knife means and the tie-energization of said driving means.

9. An assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said braking means includes a brake drum attached to said feed roller means, anchoring means, and a brake hand, one end of said brake band being coupled to said anchoring means and the other end of said brake band being coupled to said knife means for moving with said knife means to tighten the brake band around said brake drum when said knife means is operated.

10. As assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said knife means includes a knife blade and link means for moving said knife blade responsive to the operation of said operating means, said other end of said brake band being coupled to said link means.

1 1. An assembly in accordance with claim 10 further including spring means connected at one end to one end of said brake band, with the other end of said spring means and the other end of said brake band being coupled to said anchoring means and to said link means respectively.

12. 7 An assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said brake band is dimensioned such that upon operation of said knife means the tension developed in said brake band is sufficient to halt said feed roller means before said knife means cuts said paper.

13. An assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said braking means includes 'means coupled between said feed roller means and said knife means for moving and braking said feed roller means responsive to movement of said knife means.

14. An assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein said braking means is operative to halt movement of said feed roller means prior to the cutting of said paper by said knife means. 

1. A clutch, brake and knife assembly for cutting a sheet of paper from a roll and braking paper feed from the roll comprising feed roller means for feeding paper from said roll, drive means, clutch means energizable for clutching said feed roller means to said drive means and de-energizable for releasing said feed roller means froM said drive means, knife means for cutting a sheet of paper from said roll and normally disengaged from paper passed adjacent thereto, means for energizing said knife means to cut a sheet of paper from said roll, means for braking said feed roller means, means for operating said braking means to halt said feed roller means and simultaneously operating said knife energizing means to cut a sheet of paper from said roll, and means for controlling the simultaneous operation of said knife energizing means and the de-energization of said clutch means, said braking means including a brake drum attached to said feed roller means, anchoring means, and a brake band, one end of said brake band being coupled to said anchoring means and the other end of said brake band being coupled to said knife means for moving with said knife means to tighten the brake band around said brake drum when said knife energizing means is operated.
 2. A clutch, brake and knife assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said knife means includes a knife blade and link means for moving said knife blade responsive to the operation of said knife energizing actuating means, said other end of said brake band being coupled to said link means.
 3. A clutch, brake and knife assembly in accordance with claim 2 further including spring means connected at one end to one end of said brake band, with the other end of said spring means and the other end of said brake band being coupled to said anchoring means and to said link means respectively.
 4. A clutch, brake and knife assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said brake band is dimensioned such that upon operation of said knife energizing means the tension developed in said brake band is sufficient to halt said feed roller means before said knife means cuts said paper.
 5. A clutch, brake and knife assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said braking means includes means coupled between said feed roller means and said knife means for moving and braking said feed roller means responsive to movement of said knife means.
 6. A clutch, brake and knife assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said braking means is operative to halt movement of said feed roller means prior to the cutting of said paper by said knife means.
 7. An assembly for cutting a sheet of paper from a roll and braking paper feed from the roll comprising feed roller means for feeding paper from said roll, means for driving said feed roller means upon energization and not driving said feed roller means upon de-energization, knife means for cutting a sheet of paper from said roll and normally disengaged from paper passed adjacent thereto, normally inoperative means for braking said feed roller means, and means for operating said braking means to brake said feed roller means and said knife means to cut a sheet of paper from said roll simultaneously.
 8. An assembly in accordance with claim 7 further including means for controlling the simultaneous operation of of said knife means and the de-energization of said driving means.
 9. An assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said braking means includes a brake drum attached to said feed roller means, anchoring means, and a brake band, one end of said brake band being coupled to said anchoring means and the other end of said brake band being coupled to said knife means for moving with said knife means to tighten the brake band around said brake drum when said knife means is operated.
 10. As assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said knife means includes a knife blade and link means for moving said knife blade responsive to the operation of said operating means, said other end of said brake band being coupled to said link means.
 11. An assembly in accordance with claim 10 further including spring means connected at one end to one end of said brake band, with the other end of said spring means and the other end of said brake band being coupled to said anchoring means and tO said link means respectively.
 12. An assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said brake band is dimensioned such that upon operation of said knife means the tension developed in said brake band is sufficient to halt said feed roller means before said knife means cuts said paper.
 13. An assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said braking means includes means coupled between said feed roller means and said knife means for moving and braking said feed roller means responsive to movement of said knife means.
 14. An assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein said braking means is operative to halt movement of said feed roller means prior to the cutting of said paper by said knife means. 